Girls Get Lessons On Life, Gospel As Dancers Troupe Stays In Step With Religion As Performers, Students, Children After Its Organizer Discovers God

People

February 13, 1986|By Debbie Blaylock, Staff Writer

They call themselves the ``Praise Him in a Dance`` troupe and that`s exactly what they do.

Twenty-five girls, under the direction of Marion James, study the Bible and practice dance routines to gospel music three Saturdays a month. The program is an offshoot of Love Outreach Ministries for Christ, a Carver Ranches worship group of which James is a member.

Rain or shine, James said, the girls, ages 5 to 15, voluntarily spend their Saturday afternoons in the auditorium at Carver Ranches Library.

``I`ve got some hours to spare so I don`t mind,`` said Shanny Stevenson, a 12-year-old dancer from Carver Ranches. ``I love performing in front of people.``

Invitations to perform have steadily increased since the troupe started four years ago. This Saturday, they will will take over the stage at the House of God, 5501 SW 24th St., Carver Ranches.

Other scheduled performances are 7:30 p.m. Monday at Davie-Cooper City Library; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Carver Ranches Library; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Dania Library; and at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the South Regional Library on the South Campus of Broward Community College in Pembroke Pines.

``It`s Black History Month but we`re going to represent Jesus, not color, because God doesn`t have any color,`` said James, 28, a lifelong resident of Carver Ranches and the children`s librarian at Carver Ranches Library.

When she organized the dance troupe, James choreographed routines to flashy rock music such as Let It Whip. But after James found God, the repertoire changed to O It Is Jesus and Always Remember Jesus.

``When you`re living for the Lord, you have to make changes,`` she said.

One change usually leads to another and some girls dropped out of the dance troupe when James dropped the rock music. But then, the gospel music attracted a few newcomers.

``I was happier. Before they changed, I could only dance to one song because they only did one gospel song. I had already been saved and couldn`t dance those others,`` Shanny Stevenson said.

Dancers must maintain at least a C average in school. Failure to do this means they cannot perform with the troupe. No one is ever kicked out, James said. Most of the members are from Carver Ranches, Hollywood, Dania or Fort Lauderdale.

During Saturday sessions, the girls learn to understand themselves and their choices in a sometimes confusing world. They discuss drugs, sexuality (with parent`s permission) or any topics the girls request.

They participate in the library`s homework assistance program and regularly check out books.

``She`s an inspiration to them,`` said Jimmy Butler, head librarian at Carver Ranches. ``She gives them something to do and it brings them to the library. This is more than just dancing.``

When performing, the girls sport blue skirts and pink leotards. Pauline Day, James` assistant, sewed the skirts. Day helps teach and often gives her ideas on the routines James creates, as do the girls in the dance troupe.

``A lot of people think you can`t praise God and have fun,`` James said. ``That`s just not true.``

Another dancer, Chanikquha Murray, just happens to be James` 6-year-old daughter. Chanikquha said she simply likes to dance and that`s why ``it`s great.`` She doesn`t mind at all that her mother is in charge.

James was attracted to dance in the third grade and organized the Flashbacks in the sixth grade. She continued dancing in modern dance classes at Broward Community College`s south campus in Pembroke Pines.

The ``Praise Him in a Dance`` troupe survives on donations. The next purchase might be a van to transport the girls to performances. Anyone interested in donating may call Marion James at 961-6852.